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When Is It Time To Change Plugs

pastorscott

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pastorscott Enthusiast

pastorscott

Posted
Posted

On my 04 burb 5.3 got 51,000 miles. Should I change plugs yet or can I still wait. I pulled one and it looks perfect.

what the common rule out there ?

 

 

Scott - PS thinking of Rapid fire AC or E3

Zembonez Senior Enthusiast

Zembonez

Posted
Posted
On my 04 burb 5.3 got 51,000 miles. Should I change plugs yet or can I still wait. I pulled one and it looks perfect.

what the common rule out there ?

 

 

Scott - PS thinking of Rapid fire AC or E3

I've seen people in here that say they go 100K without even pulling them. I'd like to pull them and have a look by 50K myself. One thing I'd recommend for sure is that you really want to go back with the OEM plugs on an unmodified engine. If they have gone 50K plus and look perfect, they are doing a pretty darn good job. I think I'd pull them again at 75K and have a look.

 

Just my opinion.

black00chev Enthusiast

black00chev

Posted
Posted

The ACDelco iridiums in my truck looked fine when I pulled them at 130,000mi. Of course I'm not even sure how long they had been in there. They showed slightly lean but I haven't checked since I had my tune done.

Won_Hunglo Enthusiast

Won_Hunglo

Posted
Posted

I guess the real question is why do you want to change them? These new plugs do not wear out on a properly running engine. The 100,000 mile change out just prevents them from becoming one with the aluminum cylinder head in about 250,000 miles.

seadoons Enthusiast

seadoons

Posted
Posted

I am the original owner of my truck and changed them out around 105,000 / 110,000 miles. They didn't look bad when I changed them and honestly I didn't notice much improvement in performance with the new plugs. You should be fine.

shocktrp Enthusiast

shocktrp

Posted
Posted

I would do them at 50k.

 

I pulled them on my LT1 Camaro at slightly over 50k - the ceramic center electrodes wore down - some were gapped at .068 (they were supposed to be .050).

 

Make sure you use anti-seize on the threads so you don't ruin your aluminum heads.

pennzoil29 Senior Enthusiast

pennzoil29

Posted
Posted

If your bored and just want something to do, then go ahead and change them, other wise, I think they should be fine. I changed mine at 104k, and they weren't in bad shape at all, however, I got bored one day, and changed them again at 150k, and using OEM plugs.

Impalacat Enthusiast

Impalacat

Posted
Posted

If you pull them they will look almost new, I pulled mine on my 2000, because I was afraid to go any longer, fearing they might be stuck in the aluminum head, they weren't and they looked almost new at 67,000 miles, the original plugs had never sieze on them from the factory, I put A.C. Iridium(sp) plugs back in and a dab of never sieze, and could tell no difference in the running of the truck. :lol:

C & A s Dad Senior Enthusiast

C & A s Dad

Posted
Posted

Scott, I would agree with the masses here. I changed mine around 50K miles because my NGK rep gave me a new set and my 02 came from the OEM with NGKs. They looked new and I could tell no difference.

 

If you decide to do it, follow the advice on the anti sieze and the dielectric grease. I would also add to have a good set of new wires on hand. I do not recommend trying to reuse your OE wires. Even if you cannot see any damaged caused by taking them off, they could be damaged internally.

Norseman Senior Enthusiast

Norseman

Posted
Posted
Scott, I would agree with the masses here. I changed mine around 50K miles because my NGK rep gave me a new set and my 02 came from the OEM with NGKs. They looked new and I could tell no difference.

 

If you decide to do it, follow the advice on the anti sieze and the dielectric grease. I would also add to have a good set of new wires on hand. I do not recommend trying to reuse your OE wires. Even if you cannot see any damaged caused by taking them off, they could be damaged internally.

 

 

Yup, :lol:

Mikeee Enthusiast

Mikeee

Posted
Posted

Yup, leave em in.

At 100k use the OEM's and the thread antiseize goop and boot goop.

 

Marketing $$$ has caused a lot of needless part change-outs.

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